Kinetic Analysis and Modeling of Coal Pyrolysis

Coal pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of coal into char, condensable tars and volatile gases under an inert atmosphere. Kinetic analysis seeks to quantify the rates of bond breakage and the sequence of decomposition steps, typically by extracting activation energies and pre-exponential factors from thermogravimetric data. Two broad approaches dominate: model-free methods, which derive kinetic parameters without assuming a reaction scheme, and model-fitting methods, which impose a mechanistic reaction model (for example first-order, Avrami–Erofeev or distributed activation energy models). Modern studies reveal that pyrolysis proceeds through multiple, overlapping reaction stages whose activation energies often change with the extent of conversion. Computational models now couple these kinetics with heat and mass transfer to predict reactor behaviour and product distributions. Such models inform the design of industrial pyrolysis units, support the development of advanced carbon materials and guide strategies for cleaner utilisation of coal. Advances in high-resolution thermal analysis, in-situ spectroscopic monitoring and multi-scale simulation are converging to deliver predictive, feedstock-adaptive models that underpin energy production, emissions control and carbon management on a global scale.

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Kinetic Analysis and Modeling of Coal Pyrolysis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in kinetic analysis and modeling of coal pyrolysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Activation energy (Ea): Minimum energy barrier that must be overcome for thermal decomposition to proceed.

Pre-exponential factor (A): Frequency term in the Arrhenius equation representing the collision rate of reactive sites.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA): Technique measuring mass loss of a sample as temperature or time progresses under controlled atmosphere.

Model-free methods: Kinetic approaches (for example Ozawa–Flynn–Wall and Friedman) that extract parameters directly from conversion data without assuming a reaction mechanism.

Model-fitting methods: Techniques that assume a specific reaction model to fit kinetic parameters, such as first-order or Avrami–Erofeev equations.

Iso-conversion: Analysis condition in which the extent of reaction is held constant across experiments with different heating rates.

References

1. Insight into the key kinetic steps in the pyrolysis of coking and non-coking coals, characterization of the pyrolysis products. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology (2023).
2. Kinetic Analysis of Low‐Rank Coal Pyrolysis by Model‐Free and Model‐Fitting Methods. Journal of Chemistry (2019).
3. A review on thermogravimetric analysis‐based analyses of the pyrolysis kinetics of oil shale and coal. Energy Science & Engineering (2023).